From For A Lasting Peace, For A People’s DemocracyMarch 15, 1948, No. 6 (9)

Italy on the Eve of the Elections

Juiliano Pajetta

The election campaign now underway in Italy has brought to the fore the
new relation of political and social forces in the country. The
struggle of Italian democracy for victory at the forthcoming election
is an expression of the vigorous struggle which the people of Italy
have been waging in the spirit of unity for work, bread, freedom and
national independence.

The growing opposition of the Italian people to this policy is causing
alarm among the American imperialists who fear for their positions in
Italy. Some 8-10 months ago they were sure that they were firmly
entrenched in the country and could dictate their will.

Last autumn and winter the people of Italy passed over from resistance
to a counter-offensive, answering reaction's challenge with strikes and
demonstrations of a social and political character. This struggle of
the workers, agricultural labourers, and landless peasants was joined
gradually by new social strata: peasants, handicraftsmen, office
workers, small shopkeepers, small and medium industrialists and the
intelligentsia.

Indignant at the domination of Italian big capital and at the results of
American “aid” the people are resorting to struggle.

During recent months industrial output has dropped from 75 to 60 per
cent compared to 1938; the internal trade turnover has dropped by 40
per cent compared to the summer of 1947; the fall in wholesale prices
for agricultural produce, which, in the main, affected the peasantry,
has not been followed by any reduction in retail prices. The total sum
of earnings has considerably decreased of late due to the shorter
working week and to the army of unemployed, which now numbers almost
two million persons.

Despite the heavy taxation the budget deficit approximates to 800,000
million lira, while the Treasury's short-term debt reaches 450,000
million lira. Last December notes in circulation increased by 85,000
million lira.

The Political and Government apparatus of the Christian-Democratic
Party is utterly corrupt and closely interlinked with the capitalists
and landlords. Commenting on this Palmira Togliatti wrote in the
magazine “Rinacita” (No. 2. 1948):

“A large number of representatives of the Christian-Democratic Party
today hold positions in the capitalist apparatus similar to those
formerly held by the fascist rulers. Naturally, the key positions are,
as before, in the hands of the big monopolies, but the intermediate
posts, which are most lucrative – and this is important – are staffed
with Christian Democrats instead of the former fascist swashbucklers.”

The same holds true for the Saragat party, which is openly financed by
the US, while its leaders are in the pay of Italian big capital (Ivan
Matteo Lombardo is supported by the Milan capitalists, Tremelloni by
the Genoa oil magnates, Corsi by the Sardinia coal industrialists,
etc.). Perhaps the most glaring of these corrupt practises in high
Government places was the scandal of the distribution and actual
selling of the goods received as “presents” from the US.

Linked together by a chain of treachery this handful of people today in
power, are awaiting uneasily the result of the election, despite all
the advantages which give them full control of the Government apparatus
and despite the unrestricted support of the Vatican and the United
States.

In the course of their struggle for bread, work, independence and
freedom the people of Italy have not only replenished and tested their
forces, have not only foiled the plans and upset the hopes of the
reactionaries. They have also created a new political organisation –
the People's Democratic Front.

A powerful alliance of the working people, whose activities are varied,
has taken root in Italy. The Front is waging a daily struggle for the
solution of important national problems and the introduction of social
reforms which Italian public opinion, disillusioned in the
Christian-Democratic government, is pressing for.

The appearance of the Front on the political scene and its
participation in the election campaign, on the basis of common lists,
has started a panic in the camp of reaction and the bourgeois parties.
The lists include Socialist and Communist candidates, not to mention
the names of representatives of the Democratic Labour Party, the
People's Republican Alliance, the Social-Christian Party, the Christian
Movement for Peace, the Sardinia Action Party and outstanding figures
in science, culture and art. In presenting its concrete programme the;
Front has exposed the members of the Saragat party and the Republican
renegades.

All the democratic and progressive forces of the Italian people are
joining the People’s Democratic Front. The forces of reaction, the
enemies of democracy and progress on the other hand are grouping around
the Christian-Democratic Party. The election campaign is actually being
fought out between two blocs – the People's Democratic Front and the
Christian-Democratic bloc, on which all the Right, monarchist and
pro-fascist parties are relying.

On the “left” flank of the Christian-Democratic bloc are the Saragat
men and Government Republicans, on the Right – the monarchists, various
nationalists and outright fascists from the “Italian Social Movement”.
Their collaboration takes the form of coordinated election propaganda,
agreed lists of candidates and in some provinces in drawing up common
lists of candidates for the Senate.

The Saragats and Republicans for whom all observers predict a complete
fiasco at the election, have announced their readiness to collaborate
in the Government with the Christian-Democrats after the election. This
would deprive them of any possibility of “left manoeuvres”.

Hence, all the efforts of the Government parties, and above all, that
of the Christian Democrats, aim to avoid any discussion on the record
of the government headed by it, or on the responsibility of this
Government for the collapse of the national economy and the future
programme of the Italian Government.

De Gasperi and his party are contesting the election without any
constructive programme. Their election manifesto, published on March 5,
consists of general phrases and makes no mention of the question of
reforms.

Typical in this respect are de Gasperi’s words in Turin when he said:
“Boldly cast your vote, have no qualms about the morrow!”

In their propaganda the Christian-Democrat leaders are sporting a
feigned optimism. As a matter of fact their behaviour, the tone their
press, the sudden switch from threats, intimidation and police force to
an open appeal for US military aid show that de Gasperi and the
Vatican, together with their American friends, are very uneasy about
the results of the election. The London “Times” has already predicted
the possibility of a Front victory, while the “New York Times” thinks
that the Front will poll 45 per cent of the vote. Even de Gasperi
allows for the Front receiving a comparative majority of votes.
However, in an interview granted to the reactionary newspaper “Tempo”
he hastened to declare that at any rate the formation of the government
after the election should be entrusted to him. His election speeches
are the fruits of his fear and naked clerical-fascist behaviour. In
Rome he said: “I have given the Communists freedom, even though they
don't deserve it...” In Taranto: “If it is necessary to give battle,
better start now. Let heads fly... We hold power and we shall use it.”
In Ancona: “We must win, no matter the price...”, etc.

These statements, which have been denounced by the Parliamentary
commission on the election truce between parties, not only reflect the
confusion and panic of de Gasperi but also fully coincide with the
general line of action, outlined by the Christian-Democratic Party
during the election struggle.

The entire propaganda of the Christian-Democratic Party is being
conducted in pursuit of three main aims: creating panic in the country,
influencing the electorate by means of clerical terror and blackmail,
trying to frighten the people with possible loss of “American aid”. In
their endeavours to bewilder and stampede the electorate, the
reactionaries have seized upon the events in Czechoslovakia to let
loose floodgates of vile and poisonous calumny and falsehoods.

The clergy are the most active canvassers in the election campaign.
Many bishops are already carrying out Cardinal Schuster's directives
denying religious rites to the Front supporters, and exorcising all
except the Christian-Democratic Party...

The religious terror of the Catholic Church, widely utilised by the
Christian-Democrats, aims at preventing the carrying out of reforms
that would deprive Italian reaction of its economic positions, and
which would cut into such a financial force as the Vatican whose
“worldly” interests have been vividly revealed in connection with the
recent sensational scandal concerning Cippico and Guidetti.

The Christian-Democratic leaders have become quite shameless in their
propaganda in favour of American imperialism. The American Ambassador,
Dunn, is actually canvassing for the de Gasperi party. Dunn is so
blatant that even the Saragat newspaper “Italia Socialista” counselled
him recently to speak less about Italian affairs...

“America is providing the most generous aid; Italy cannot manage
without this aid; nobody else can help Italy… America will stop all aid
if the Front wins” – such are the “arguments” of the
Christian-Democrats and the Saragat group. However, very few nowadays
believe in the generosity of the American rulers. The national dignity
of the Italians is deeply hurt by this constant blackmail. On the other
hand, the economic and financial position of Italy instead of
improving, has worsened precisely since the beginning of “American
aid”. This “aid” has already reduced industrial output in Italy while
the peasants are horrified at talk about the import of 280 thousand
tons of potatoes from the US. The people are becoming increasingly
indignant at the servility of de Gasperi and Sforza to the American
expansionists, at the exclusive orientation of Italy's foreign trade on
the US and at the growing hostility of the de Gasperi Government
towards the Soviet Union arid the new democracies. The economic
successes of these countries have made a big impression on Italian
public opinion.

The People's Democratic Front stands for peace and cooperation between
all peoples; zealously defending the political and economic
independence of Italy, the Front is winning new successes in the
struggle against the enslavement of the country by American capital.
The Front does not confine itself merely to election propaganda, it is
conducting all-round activity in defence of the vital interests; of the
working people, and has achieved major successes in this sphere.

Trying to preserve power in their hands, the Christian-Democrats, as
stated by de Gasperi himself, are ready for anything: for provocations,
for a direct appeal for help to the American marines. In particular
they have already made use of the Institute of Statistics, which is now
under their influence, for the purpose of adding to, or decreasing,
insofar as this suits their election interests, the number of deputies
in certain constituencies.

The people of Italy are watching vigilantly the .manoeuvres of internal
and American reaction, and they will never allow themselves to be put
under the yoke of colonial bondage and slavery. April 18 will bring
victory to Italian democracy, a victory that will be a big contribution
to the common struggle for democracy, progress and peace.